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@uitrit tetes detriti @attira HENRY ROPES, OFKBRKLYY, .NE-"W YORK.

Letters Patent llro. 62,689, elated am-i 5, 1867..

groener-Boer cLAsrs.

TO ALL WHOM 1T MAY CONCERN: v

Be it known that I, HENRY RoPES,.ot`YBrooklyn, in the county of Kings, and State of New York, have invented a new and useful improvement inCllasps for Pocket-Books, Purses, tc. and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, and of its mode or mannerlof operation, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and tothe letters `of refercnccnnarked thereon, and making a lpart oi" this specification. i

'The nature ofmy invention or improvement consists inse constructingthe clasp used for, fasteningand holding together the pocket-book, purse, the., that such clasp will of itself admit of free expansion or contraction, so as to permit the purse, the., to accommodate itself automatically, or without manipulation, to a less or greater quantity of matter in it, and without the use of any spring or elastic material to secure such expansion.

Figure l shows the clasp in the position when the purse is notl filled.

Figure 2 is an enlarged view 0i' the clasp.

Figure. 3 shows the position of the clasp'when the purse is full.

In clasps, as heretofore generally constructed, the connection between. the two parts of the clasp, that is, between the body of the clasp, which is permanently ixed to the yside of the purse,vpockctboek, die., and that part of the clasp which is lifted to the flap, has been rigid, and not capableof-'variation or lateral movement or expansion, and, when provided for at all, has been secured by the introduction, in connection with the movable part of the clasp, of an elastic spring, or some elastic material, as rubber, er by some mechanical arrangement which allowed the movable part of the clasp to connect with the other part at dilicrent points, such change, however, requiring to be made with the hand, and the clasp, when changed in position, being ixed until again moved by the hand. Elastic springs, however, when made use of, are liable soon to get out of order and become worthless`r and elastic rubber material very soon loses its elasticity, and becomes wholly insuiiicient for the purposes and uses desired and necessary; and the other method or formof construction `permitted expansion and contraction only by iitcd distances, and which also could only be effected by manipulation.

My invention secures the benefits of the clasp; that is, a rm and certain connection; and also, by the peculiar construction of the clasp, the benetitsand advantages of the elastic spring or material, for the l-purposes of expansion, wit-hout the necessity `l'or any such elastic springs or material. i v

Inst-cad of having the catch A pass into and connect with the body B or" the clasp,by means of an orifice or opening just large enough to receive such catch, as is usually-the case, I malte in the body B of the clasp a slot, C, of any length desired7 to receive the catch A', and in which such catch` can move freely forwards and backwards, or up and down, according as the pocket-bool: onpurse to which the clasp is fixed is more or less iiiled. Within the body of the clasp, and somewhat longer than the slotC made therein, is a bar, i), behind orunderneath which the hook of the catchA passes, to hold-the two parts of the clasp together. The edge d di such bar is chnmfered or berelled olii, so that the catch A, when pressed down with the hand, will easily pass by and under the bar for the `purposes, mentioned. Such bar D is also rigidly fixed to or made a part of the projectingrpieee E, so that, as the latter is moved by the thumb or finger in the direction indicated by the-arrow, such bar will be carried from olf the hooi; of the. catch, and allow the purse or book to be easily opened. The har D, when in its natural position,'partially nearly fills the slot C, and is keptin posit-ion so as to pass over the hoohef' the catch thelatter is forced down, bylmeans et' a spring, a, which may be arranged as shown in the drawings, or in any other convenient manner to' effect the same purpose. It will he at once apparent that the catch A can freely move forwards and backwards, or up and down, in the slot 0an`d thereby, and to the extent of the length of the slot, the capacity of the bool: or purse can be varied, while at the same, linie the connection can be as {ir-ni and secure as if the catch had no lateral movement. Expansion is also wholly secured by the peculiar construction of the clasp, and without the application cruise either of elastic springs or elasticA material. The length ot the bo-dyoi` the clasp and of the slot made in it may be varied as desired or found most convenient. The bar D is not pivotcd` at either end, but moves loosely in the clasp. n

Cln'sps have heretofore been made having in one part a long slot, in which the other part was fitted to move: bul such Vmovement could he made onlyby manipulation, and only to and from particular points or pla-ces in such slot; and the parte, connected together in any position, could afterwards have no motion on each other until disconnected and actually changed or moved in position. Such construction, however, of clasp, while it provided for movement, or expansion and contraction of one part of thc clasp upon the other, docs not permit or in any manner provide for free motion of the parts upon each, or automatic expansion or contraction. But in a clasp constructed with a slot and method of fastening, as in my invention, free motionof one part of the clasp upon the other., or motion without the necessity of manipulation, and limited in extent only by thc length of the slot, is provided for 'and permitted, thus allowing automatic expansion andA contraction, as the book is swelled or reducedin size.; and such expansion or contraction is also secured without the use of any elastic materials. Such =rnotim or movement-of one part of thc clasp upon'or withinvthe other lis not, however, wholly free and unrestricted, or the catch A permitted to slip back and forth in the slot Cat random or uncontrolled, but the movement of suchk catch is somewhat restrained or influenced by the pressure and friction ofthe har D, which is held against such catch by means of the spring a. It is such automatic expansion and contraction, secured or rendered possible from the construction of the clasp itself, and not vthe result of any elasticrnaterials, that I'secli to obtain, and which is thc object and purpose of my invention;

WhatI'ciaim asmy invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- l d In a-clasp for purses, pocket-books, SLG., the construction and arrangement of the slot C, which takes thc catch, and catch A, substantially as described, to allow of automatic expansion and contraction of the purse, in combination with the bar D and spring ct, or their equivalent, for locking or fastening the catch, and holding thctwo parts of the clasp together, the several parts operating substantially as and for the purposes .set forth.

Ht Horns.

Witnesses.

S. D. LAW, W. R. RONALDS. 

